On a Friday in July at the start of the 1970s workmen climbed ladders with their pick axes and sledgehammers and began to demolish a building on what one local author described as a “black day for Watfordians”.

Even though it is 53 years since a Watford Observer photographer captured these scenes, the decision to knock down the Cassiobury Park Gates still provokes deep feelings among those who lived through that period in the town’s history.

The archway above the gates had stood for more than 150 years and was originally built as the entrance to the driveway to Cassiobury House.

Watford Observer: How the gates looked around the 1920sHow the gates looked around the 1920s (Image: Dollamore Collection / Watford Museum)

But in 1970, it was decided the gates had to go as part of a road-widening scheme in Rickmansworth Road.

Watford Observer: The workmen on the top of the gatesThe workmen on the top of the gates (Image: Watford Observer)

Writing in his book Lost Watford, John Cooper said: “Friday 24 July 1970 was indeed a black day for Watfordians when the demolition men started to reduce a piece of Watford heritage to rubble.”

Watford Observer: An extraordinary image of one of the workmen with his pick axeAn extraordinary image of one of the workmen with his pick axe (Image: Watford Observer)

Look back to that ‘black day’ with these pictures from our archive.

Watford Observer: The gates were demolished as part of a scheme to widen Rickmansworth RoadThe gates were demolished as part of a scheme to widen Rickmansworth Road (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Observer: Another piece of the gates bites the dustAnother piece of the gates bites the dust (Image: Watford Observer)